"Don't be dismayed by good-byes.
A farewell is necessary before you can meet again.
And meeting again,
after moments or lifetimes,
is certain for those who are friends"
-Richard Bath
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| Farewell to Mariela Karlsruher Riegel(left) & Vicky Hsu (right). |
Let's talk about the first impression of Mariela.
We, Mariela, Pear, Nana, Anom, Wen and I, have been known each other more than one year since we met in the International Day and it was also the first year of Ann Arbor, Michigan among us.
Thus, we were all newcomers, by definition.
Until now, I have the vividly recollection how Mariela turns me on.
Mariela with sandy blond hair is nearly 5'10 (180 cm) impossible tall because I seldom find out the girl who is over o.3 foot (10 cm) taller than me, and yet amply lean, the beautiful Chilean.
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The other beautiful Chilean girls, Macarena ( left) and Hineva ( right).
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I knew limited about Chile before I met Mariela, just based on test book.....
I'm so lucky to have Mariela as my first Chilean friend that I have a deeper understanding about the characteristics of Chilean girls.
Before I met Mariela,
Chile is simply the high-efficient "geographic term" in the high school test paper.
As far as I was concerned,
Chile is the most narrowest strip of land in the world, and have the world's driest desert, Atacama Desert in the north-side Chile. Besides, the Moai on the Easter Island is famous all over the world, and also have been become a fad in Taiwan recently. Meanwhile, this place abounds with copper mines and fruits, especially apple.
To my knowledge,
I reckon Mariela is from the central part of Chile due to the Mediterranean climate.
and that's all I knew about Chile,which is all the liberal description before I met her.
I Love the Chilean girl, Mariela.
Mariela is European mixed. If my memory is right, she is half German.
Meanwhile, she is well educated and will be a dentist.
The most important thing is, her smile is as bright and brilliant as sunshine.
When I bump her into the Northwood center or parking lot, she always greets me with a warm smile.
All she does make my day when I encounter her every time.
I certainly believe that it would be tougher than ever for me to say good-bye when her go-back-day is getting closer.
A gift of blessings to Mariela.
We consider the UM flag as the best souvenir to represent our warm friendship in this cold country, meanwhile each of us write down our words to her.
Dear Mariela,
you might not think how glad I am when I saw your happy and satisfied face.
May the joy and the happiness around you today and always.
Besides,
Please keep this flag BECAUSE NANA wrote her blessing in advance and checked the grammar and content to me over and over again.
SEE HOW DEEPLY SHE LOVES YOU <3
# SHOW-OFF TIME TO MY MOM:
the flag with my words and signature will appear in Chile!!!
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| Japanese lady, Shinobu (middle one). she looks like a college student! |
Shinobu is not only kind but also considerate.
Even though she has to take care her fever daughter,
she insisted on giving her sincerely blessing to Mariela and Vicky.
Talk about Vicky......
I make friend with Vicky because of my friend and also her BF, Alex.
I have to say that Vicky has a indeed considerate BF, Alex,
Alex asked me if it's possible to hang out with Vicky when she payed a short visit to Ann Arbor .
"why not?!" I readily agreed.
But our first introduction is indeed "interesting".
I went to Braiwood mall to grab some chocolates after class on the normal Friday,
then I ran into Alex who sat on the sofa, read the reference book and waited his girl,Vicky, doing her shopping. What he did as same as my husband did as usual.
This is the first time I talked to her.
Of course, I love Vicky undoubtedly.
Afterwards,
The more we hang out, the closer we are.
Energetic, outgoing and easy- going are all about her.
Everyone likes her perky personality, so do I.
What's more,
highly support to me is the most part I'm so impressed.
Take the farewell party for example,
she just came back from vacation from L.A the day before the party,
no matter how jet-lagged she is, she helps me to organize the party with no doubt.
Therefore, I certainly believe that we will keep in touch even though she goes back to Taiwan, because SHE IS MY REAL SISTER.(yet I'm the elder one.....)
# TO ALEX,
How could you find out such an amazing girl as Vicky !!!
You and Vicky are meant for each other.
For both Mariela and Vicky,
Undoubtedly,
I wanna give them a wonderful memory surround by all friends who love them and tasty foods.
Moreover,
Not only do old friends, Pear, Nana, Anom, Wen, Macarena, Hineva and Shinobu but newcomers, Winne, Citra, Tae, Natsuko, Yukiko, Ping and Ega wanna give them our sincerely blessings and wish them all the best in the future.
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| My lovely partners, Ping, Wen, Vicky and Winnie (from left to right). Without each of you, the party would be uncompleted. |
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS,
Thanks everyone, Pear, Nana, Anom, Wen, Macarena, Hineva, Shinobu, Winne, Citra, Tae, Natsuko, Yukiko, Ping and Ega for joining the party,
WE ALL COMPLETE IT !!!
Chinese Edition / 中文版本
2014年12月3日歡送兩位即將離開AA的好朋友Mariela & Vicky，
他們都對我而言，他們就像聖誕節之於12月一樣，驚喜、溫暖、別具意義。
去年乍然決定從台灣搬到Ann Arbor，
原本在台灣忙碌的生活，突然要轉到異地重新出發。
「如何讓一天24小時左右擺盪的鐘擺突然靜默下來？」
生活所造成的不安全感，
我就像是新聞人性格（強迫症）發作一樣，尋找任何可能在異地的機會。
凡舉任何可能可以參加活動、組織、社區資源或免費課程都在我的搜尋範圍，
出發前夕，我列了一張名單，記錄著組織名稱、交通路線、活動時間、聯絡人電話，
其中當地的女性組織－－International Neighbor是我的TOP 1口袋名單。
在IN day，很快地交上一群與我年齡相仿的朋友，
幸運的是，我們都是剛到Ann Arbor幾個月、甚至幾天的新手，
或許如此，大家分外惺惺相惜
往後的日子我們一起探索這個小鎮，
而Mariela就是我們其中的一員。
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| Mariela善於烘焙餅乾、糕點，超好吃。 |
Mariela 來自智利，一頭漂亮的金棕髮，身高180公分，既高又瘦，未來即將是一名牙醫。
過去的一年，我們有很多美好的回憶，
開心聚餐吃飯、她教我玩保齡球、參加許多活動
對不開心的事會超有默契地互看彼此、然後大翻白眼。
在認識她之前，
對於「智利」印象只停留在高中地理－－常考頻率即高的國家，
世界最狹長國家、世界最乾燥的阿塔卡瑪沙漠（Atacama Desert）、復活島的巨人石像（Moai）、氣候複雜多樣、銅礦王國，以及除了富士蘋果，媽媽最愛的就是智利蘋果。
還記得我們第一次的聊天內容，
她告訴我她住在智利的Viña del Mar時，
我熱情地回她：是不是在智利的中部？
她既意外又興奮，我竟然知道她的都市，詢問我是不是曾經去過？！
我很不好意思得告訴她，其實我根本不知道Viña del Mar在那裏
我只是憑藉著高中地理課本按圖索驥：智利中部乃地中海型氣候，宜居，人口集中在此
她大笑，「這樣也被你猜到！你應該是Straight-A Student，對吧？ 」
那天空氣裡滿滿是她爽朗的笑聲又充滿陽光的笑容，也開啟我們之後的美好時光。
有時候真的滿佩服自己的瞎扯蛋......，
但也因此交到一位好朋友，
現在，對我來說，智利已經不再只是一個地理名詞，多了份濃濃的Mariela的味道。
初來乍到冷烈之地，
連這邊的台灣人都不太認識，
我的異國姊妹淘們成了我的依靠。
儘管我們說著不是彼此最不熟悉的語言，
但真真切切是彼此生活的良伴，或者說，是「解藥」。
也因此，說再見的時後會格外捨不得，
和她討論著她心目中的歡送會，
聊到過去一年種種，心裡很甜卻很酸，
我們決定要好好的說再見，然後繼續過好每一天，
等待來日相見。
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| Ega & Natsuko。 |
對於Vicky的喜愛，自然不在話下，就像小妹妹一樣，貼心、活潑又大方。
和她的緣分，來自於我的朋友，也是她的親密愛人Alex。
看著他們兩小無猜相處是一件很有趣的事，
像極了電影《那一年，我們追的女孩》般的青春氣息
但，他們並不是笨蛋的柯景騰又或者傲慢假正經的沈佳宜，
而是有著柯景騰、沈佳宜的戀愛模式。
她總是向我抗議，他不在意她。
他倒也從不否認，卻在她來美國的前夕，特別要我照顧她。
他害怕她的孤單，嘴上不說，卻充滿愛意。
男女關係最微妙之處，就在甜蜜間恰到好處的吵鬧。
親愛的V：
很謝謝你無條件支持我，
很高興每次的聚會你都樂在其中，
為你、我、姊妹淘帶來極大的快樂。
曾經在party準備前夕，
我們用著很鈍的菜刀，邊翻白眼邊削高麗菜（是的，還邊恥笑我切菜技術）
參加Japanese Party，你包的跟愛斯基摩人一樣，宛如來到雪窖冰天的南國之人。
又或者，姊妹淘上泰國館子，
我們吃著超辣泰國菜，狂嗑白飯、狂灌水，
儘管結局是，我們倆對泰國辣度雙雙舉手投降。
但卻是笑中帶淚的回憶。
還有瘋狂的Halloween Party.....。
更感動得是，這次的Farewell Party
明明你也是歡送主角之一，又正逢你渡假歸來的第一天，頂著時差兩肋插刀全力支持我。
還記得保齡球聚會那次嗎？
我曾告訴你：只是你想加入，不管多遠我都願意找你。
而你，也同樣的心情來對待我，
謝謝在我的朋友圈營造了歡樂的氣氛，
也用更多的愛，珍惜我們之間的友誼。
有你這樣的朋友、妹妹，真的很幸運、愉快，
宛如炙熱的夏天從天而降的冰淇淋，全身暢快又振奮人心。
愛你，所以更加祝福你。
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| Nana( left) and Tae(right) both are beautiful and good-manner Japanese girls. |
最後，謝謝我的好夥伴秀秀、宜芳和胡萍。
因為我的小任性，硬是將Chinese Party硬生生提前了一個多月。
秀秀：
我已經不知道說過多少次"I cannot live without you"，
謝謝你溫柔得包容我，
在我元神沒定位或是飄走時，
幫我頂住一切。
宜芳：
那通電話對我的作用很大，
不僅安定我煩躁的心，
讓我更有信心走下去，
謝謝。
（就讓它成了我們之間的小祕密吧！）
胡萍：
謝謝你很牛的料理。
往後我們還要一起玩樂下去！
總是覺得自己會的不多，謝謝總有人適時出現。
